There are many possible reasons for a low blood count, and several may coexist in one person. The primary test for blood counts called a complete blood count, or CBC, measures the concentration of red cells, white cells and platelets. A low blood...
The bone marrow is the center of production of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. WBCs fight infections, RBCs carry oxygen throughout the body and platelets cause the blood to clot to prevent bleeding. Healthy bone marrow...
Blood consists of protein-rich liquid and platelets, red blood cells and white blood cells, collectively known as formed blood elements. A complete blood count, or CBC, includes counts of the formed blood elements along with other measurements...
Red blood cells carried oxygen from the lungs to the various muscles and organs of the body. The main component of red blood cells is the molecule hemoglobin, which binds to oxygen and later releases it. A red blood cell count is a measure of...
The human body keeps blood sodium concentration in a tight range of 135 to 145 meq/L. According to Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, low blood sodium, or hyponatremia, is defined as a sodium level less than 135 meq/L. Mild hyponatremia...
Hyponatremia refers to a dangerously low sodium level in the fluid surrounding your body's cells. Your body needs sodium, an electrolyte, for numerous critical life functions, including nervous system and muscle actions. Hyponatremia often...
The body produces two main categories of white blood cells, granulocytes, cells containing granules suspended within their plasma and agranulocytes which have no granules. Neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils are types of granulocytes....
Human blood contains three classifications of specialized cells: red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. The protein hemoglobin, the main component of red blood cells, carries oxygen throughout the body. Medications, conditions and...
A complete blood count, or CBC, includes the white blood cell count, red blood cell count, hematocrit, hemoglobin and platelet count. A CBC is a common blood test to diagnose and monitor a variety of medical conditions. There are many diseases and...
Abnormalities in blood cell counts can be serious signs of illness and disease, side effects of drugs or complications from medical procedures such as cancer treatments. MayoClinic.com defines leucopenia, or low white blood cell count, as a...
Anemia is the medical term for a low red blood cell count. The bone marrow produces red blood cells (RBCs), which normally remain in the circulation for approximately three months. Diseases that decrease RBC production or shorten their lifespan in...
White blood cells, also called leukocytes, function to protect the body from foreign invaders such as bacteria and viruses. Five major types of white blood cells exist, each performing important functions in the immune system. An adult's normal...
Many cell types within the blood perform specialized functions throughout the body. White blood cells help make up the immune system and protect the body from infection. Red blood cells bind to oxygen from the lungs and distribute oxygen to...
White blood cells, or leukocytes, are the cells your body uses to fight off infections. There are different types of white blood cell, each responsible for fighting different microbes. For example, neutrophils help fight off bacterial infections,...
Vitamin deficiency is normally not the main cause of a low white blood cell count. Powerful infections such as AIDS or cancer are the main culprits. Having certain vitamin deficiencies can lower the white blood cell count a little and seriously...
Stress, fatigue, lack of sleep and medical conditions can contribute to a low energy syndrome. Vitamins for low energy are sometimes paired with herbal supplements, caffeine or proteins to boost energy and metabolism. However, most of the vitamins...
Low white blood cell count, also called leukopenia, is a condition that can be caused by a number of diseases and medical conditions. Because white blood cells (leukocytes) defend the body against infections, it is important to determine the...
A low white blood cell count is usually found when a doctor orders blood tests. White blood cells, or leukocytes, attack foreign cells and prevent them from causing an infection. A low count of white blood cells is a symptom of an illness, but is...
WBC is an acronym for white blood cell. Low WBC refers to a decreased concentration of white blood cells in the body. White blood cells, also known as leukocytes, are essential in fighting off invasive microorganisms that can circulate in the...
White blood cells, also called leukocytes, help the body fight infection. Leukopenia is a medical condition in which there are not enough white blood cells circulating in the blood. Many diseases can cause leukopenia due to damage of the bone...
White blood cells, also known as leukocytes, defend the body against germs and infections. They produce protective antibodies that overpower germs, or surround and decimate invading bacteria. An increase or decrease in leukocytes can indicate an...
Thrombocytopenia, the medical term for a low blood platelet count, occurs when blood platelets die faster than they're reproduced. According to the Mayo Clinic, a healthy count ranges between 150,000 and 450,000 platelets for every microliter of...
CMF is an acronym for a chemotherapy regimen consisting of three medications: cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil. The CMF chemotherapy regimen is used in the treatment of breast cancer. These medications are given in the course of...
The term low blood count can refer to white blood cells, red blood cells or platelets. While low blood counts are often the temporary result of a treatable illness, low levels of blood cells can indicate a serious medical condition that cannot be...
Determining the number of white blood cells present in a blood sample can give medical professionals important clues about what is causing a patient's symptoms. Leukopenia, or low white blood cell count, can indicate a number of medical...
Antacids reduce the stomach's production of gastric hydrochloric acid, helping to reduce painful symptoms of conditions such as peptic ulcer disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease and gastritis. Hydrochloric acid plays an important role in the...
Platelets and white blood cells are two of the main blood cell types in the body. Abnormal levels of these cells can be a sign of illness, disease or complications. Thrombocytopenia, or a low platelet count, can have serious consequences because...
Vitamins are nutrients that are needed in small amounts in order for good health. They need to be supplied in the diet because they cannot be synthesized by the body. Vitamins are roughly classified into those water-soluble and those that are...
What affects your heart rate? Good question. There are many factors that affect your heart rate, like physical or emotional stress, medications, smoking, caffeine, and illness. A person's heart rate fluctuates throughout the day, and people...
